The second volume of Jane Yolen's fantasy anthology series contains original stories and poetry by Ursual K. Le Guin, Barbara Hambly, Carol Janes Bangs, Marvin Bell, Patricia McKillip, Delia Sherman, Susan Solomont, Richard Kearns, Diane Duane, and Barbara Can Noord, and 26 others. A diverse collection of the best in original short fantasy.

17 essays selected from the magazine "Fantasy and science fiction."

For the first in over 50 years, Harlan Ellison's second novel returns to print in a substantially revised and expanded form. Also included are three of Ellison's best long-form stories. This 336-page paperback features: The Sound of a Scythe, Harlan Ellison's never-before-republished second novel-appearing for the first time under the author's preferred title (the original publisher renamed it The Man With Nine Lives without Ellison's consent)-expanded by 25% from its 1960 publication and extensively rewritten by Ellison for this appearance. Virtually every page has been finessed by the author. "Mefisto in Onyx"-The Bram Stoker Award-winning novel of a telepath who's asked by his best friend to journey into the mind of a serial killer on death row. "All the Lies That Are My Life"-Ellison's novella about a world-famous writer who overshadows his best friend from beyond the grave. "The Resurgence of Miss Ankle-Strap Wedgie"-A Veronica Lake-inspired tale of a rediscovered silver-screen star's brutal return to Hollywood. An introduction by Emmy-nominated tv writer Ronald D. Moore, creator of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica and writer/producer of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Roswell, and HBO's critically acclaimed Carnivale. And a beautiful new cover by World Fantasy Award-nominated artist Jill Bauman.

All-new stories of the wise, the wicked, and the wizards in between are collected from today's masters of modern fantasy, including Neil Gaiman, Eoin Colfer, and Garth Nix.

Hugo and World Fantasy Award nominated editor Warren Lapine celebrates twenty years in genre publishing with his latest effort, Fantastic Stories of the Imagination. This anthology contains fourteen nicely varied stories by some of the top names in genre publishing and several new up-and-comers. Included are Harlan Ellison, Mike Resnick, Barry B. Longyear, Kelly McCullough, Shariann Lewitt, Tom Piccirilli, Trent Zelazny, Sharon Lee, Steve Miller, and many others. The stories range from edgy cyberpunk to urban fantasy, and they'll stay with you long after you've closed the book. Explore what it means to be human and experience the depth of despair and heights of joy that come along it. These stories do not disappoint.-SF Scope

In the annual war of a medieval fantasy society in upstate New York, Cassandra Dunreith, a Brooklyn comics writer, is to play a sword-wielding warrior. The play, however, turns into a real-life battle against a supernatural enemy.

When Tom Brodzinksi tries to give up smoking, he inadvertently sets off a chain of events that threaten to upset the tenuous balance of peace in a not-too-distant land. When he flips the butt of his final cigarette off the balcony of his vacation apart-ment, it lands on elderly Reggie Lincoln, lounging on the balcony below. Lincoln suf-fers a burn, and the local authorities charge Tom with assault―in a country with draconian anti-smoking laws, a cigarette is a weapon of offense. For reparation, Tom must leave his family behind and wander through the arid center of the country's deserted territory. Joining Tom on his journey is Brian Prentice, a mysteriously sin-ister presence, who has his own sins to make up for. Inevitably, the two men en-counter violence, forcing them to come together despite their seething mistrust. Refusing facile moral certitudes, The Butt is set in a distorted world, a country that is part Australia, part Iraq, and part the heart of a distinctively modern darkness.

Vintage is the engaging story of what it's like to be a teenager in today's world and the troubles that accompany that age as well as what it's like to be haunted by the troubles of the teens of yesterday's world and how similar both those worlds really are. More than a story about Goth fashion, teen angst or even restless ghosts, Vintage delivers pulse-quickening plot, unique and fully-developed characters.

When necromancy takes a holiday, it's the Devil with you! When the magicians descended on the Hotel Flopmoor for their annual convention, they decided to raise hell--literally! Room service is a usual hotel accomodation--and the Flopmoor added a ghost to each room!

When I was fourteen, a cousin of mine angered a Malignant One. It was a big case, a genuine scandal. Maybe you remember it. At the time, when it ended, I just wanted to forget about the whole thing. But a couple of years have passed and I guess maybe it's time to think about it again. Thus begins Ellen Pierson's story of how she helped her cousin Paul contend with the Malignant One running a temp agency in the office building where he worked. Ellen's story is a bright and moving tale set in the same fabulous, fantastic America as that of Rachel Pollack's award-winning Unquenchable Fire. Funny and frantic, poignant and powerful, Temporary Agency is an enduring fable from a writer whose work, in the words of Orson Scott Card, like a river in flood, resists the well-channeled ways, cutting its own channel through the fictional terrain.

While attending the revels of the League for Archaic Pleasurs, a group dedicated to the pleasures of the medieval period, Joe Farrell comes face-to-face with Nicholas Bonner, a spirit from the past and an ancient evil.

The spirit of a man named Sam, who died unexpectedly, inhabits the body of his beloved cat and communicates with his best friend, Jacob, and the woman he loved, Emilia.

"He's back. Despite absolutely no requests at all, Sir Apropos of Nothing-he who was spawned from the violent assault of a tavern wench by a group of drunken knights-has returned. This time his voyages take him to the land of Rogypt, a surprisingly ancient realm where the tragic people known as the Shews labor endlessly in building pyramids for their masters. When Apropos inadvertently interferes with he who is destined to be their savior, no less than a deity reaches down and points His fickle finger upon him, informing him it is now his responsibility to liberate the people. All that stands in his way? An unpredictable young ruler, his insanely duplicitous sister and, oh yes, an ancient mummy's curse. So basically, just a typical day for the roguish Apropos."--Publisher's description.

King Arthur--in his modern incarnation as Arthur Penn--has been elected President of the United States. But with political power comes powerful enemies. An assassination attempt against Arthur puts his beloved wife Gwen in a coma--and her only hope lies in the lost Holy Grail.

In "Knight Life," King Arthur was elected mayor of New York City. In "One Knight Only," Arthur was voted President of the United States. Now, Arthur has become head of his very own church as Arthur Penn reveals his true identity, and the existence of the Holy Grail, to the world.

Dracula! Vampires! The blood runs red under the moon! In late summer of 2009, Moonstone follows up its fang-favorite monster anthology, Werewolves: Dead Moon Rising , with this second installment in the Moonstone Monsters series, this time focusing on those enigmatic creatures of the night, Vampires! Two extra-sized special Dracula stories serve to open and close this collection of ten all-new vampire tales by some of the industry's favorite horror writers. Vampire stories are timeless and continue to dominate horror-fiction in books, as well as the big screen and television. L.A. Banks, P.N. Elrod, and Elaine Bergstrom are all celebrated for the runs of popular Vampire novels, Martin Powell demonstrates his intimate familiarity with the mythos of Count Dracula... these and other stories contained in this gruesome horror anthology are sure to appeal to an audience that can't get enough of these ages-old bloodsuckers!

For Tom and his teddy bear, each day's activity continues into a wonderful nighttime adventure when Tom wields his magic cloth at bedtime.

On a visit to his rich eccentric uncle, who owns many wonderful paintings, Tom is amazed when Rembrandt leaves his self-portrait and takes a walk with Tom.

Cullen James is a young women whose life dictates her dreams--and whose dreams control her life. Cullen begins to dream of a parallel world called Rondua where a charming child named Pepsi and equally engaging talking animals go on a quest for magical bones that can save or destroy life. Her "real" life in New York City becomes just as exciting and dangerous.

The word arrives that Karl Cullinane is dead. Jason, his son and heir, assumes command. He leads the inner circle of warriors and the dragon Ellegon against the evil Slaver's Guild. Then Jason learns his father still lives. When a dwarf appears, signaling death, Jason faces a choice and the full weight of kingship.